314 



THE LAST CRUISE OF THE CARNEGIE 



school. The natives, who had just completed a hilarious cele- 

 bration of Armistice Day, were on the verge of physical exhaustion ; 

 but they were willing to repeat it all for our benefit. The or- 

 chestra for the grand"fandango" was unique. It consisted of a 

 collection of some twelve or fifteen percussion-instruments : large 

 drums made by stretching pigskin over the hollowed trunk of a 

 coconut-tree, smaller drums of conventional design, hollow blocks 



4 



Dancing in the Churchyard at Manihiki Island 



of wood, hard -wood sticks, and an empty kerosene tin. With 

 this apparatus they were able to play the most complex patterns 

 of rhythm, perfectly suited to their dance — a performance which 

 amazed us all. 



The whole of the able-bodied population participates. Ranks 

 are formed as for a military drill, and leaders take their places at 

 the head of each file. The "orchestra" now strikes up its barbaric 

 rhythm, and at the shouted commands of the leaders, the dancers 



